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Show WISDOM AND STRENGTH BELONG TO GOD "And Daniel answered and said, The Name of God be praised forever and ever: For Wisdom and strength are his." (Daniel 2: 20) Nebuchadnezzar had been reigning for a while. He had gathered to himself astrologers and wise men and magicians and enchanters and soothsayers that worked for him. It was there assigned task to tell him what he needed to know and to make sure that nothing slipped up on him. Better yet, these wise men were to tell the king not just what he needed to know but what he wanted to know. Far too many of us are like this king, wanting 1 to know even more than we needed to know. Here we are in the second year of his reign and he has been dreaming and he wants these men to tell him not only the interpretation of that dream but what he had dream. In fact, he put them under the penalty of death if they could not tell him both what he dreamed and the interpretation of that dream. I don't care what you think, wisdom and strength belong to God. The King called in those men and asked them to put on a show and tell for him. But none of the Babylonian wise men could tell the king what his dream was. They were eager to interpret the dream if the king would just tell them what it was. But they could not tell the King what he had dreamed so the king 2 began to put those wise men to death. In fact, verse 13 says, "And when sentence was given, the wise men were slain: and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be put to death. " But thank God, Daniel had found favor in the king's man and he persuaded him to let him go before the king and ask for a little more time. Daniel asked the king and the king gave him a little more time to come up with the dream and the interpretation. Daniel found his companions Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. It was not the four of them but wisdom and strength belong to God. They went to Daniel's place and called on God and told Him what they were up against. You do remember that Daniel's house was a place of prayer. 3 Three times a day, he open the window and prayed for the world to know. The New Testament reminds us that wherever two or three come together, touching and agreeing, they can ask what they will and God will grant it. God heard Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah' s cry and gave them grace and mercy. God did not allow these four young adults to perish. In their weakness and even when the king would put them to death, wisdom and strength belong to God. God revealed to the four young adults the answer to the king's problem. He showed them the dream and the interpretation of the king. Can I tell you, my sisters and my brothers, God is allknowing. He is wise beyond measure. He is stronger than any army. What God 4 other men tried to answer the king in their own power and strength but they could not. In fact, the wise men told the king that what he was asking was in the hands of God and God alone. We keep trying man made solutions and answers. We soon discover that the best we have is a bed too short with covers too narrow. The best computer is no match for the divinely created brain. The fastest plane or rocket ship we have is not match for the sound and light. The newest drugs or spices are not match for the Holy Spirit. In stead of bringing things to our remembrance, our memories are tom apart. He is the only one who can change the seasons and the times. He knows what is in the darkest and the deepest places. Wisdom and Strength 5 Belong to God. Daniel, Hananaih, Mishael, and Azariah were not Babylonians but young adults committed to God. It was not the god of Buddha or Muhammad or any other human but the God of heaven that they praised. And if any man lack wisdom or strength, let him ask that God who owns Wisdom and Strength! 6 |
